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Thursday, May 08, 2008
Palace declares Hanjin bribe-extortion case closed (11:05 a.m.)
MANILA -- Malacañang declared close the alleged P400-million bribe-extort case involving South Korean shipping firm Hanjin Heavy Industries due to the quick intervention of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Tagaloan mayor Paulino Emano has signed an affidavit stating that there was no bribe offer on him nor was there any extortion attempt on Hanjin in exchange for the environmental clearance certificate (ECC) on its shipyard facility in Misamis Oriental.
Ermita said Emano and Villanueva mayor Juliette Uy are going to issue the permit that would pave the way for the construction of the training center and eventually the shipbuilding facility itself.
"That issue is already okay...The important thing there is that there will be no more finger-pointing about who did what," he said, adding that the Philippine National Police (PNP) has not obtained any evidence of bribery or extortion.
"So indeed the President had averted something that could have been messy, if this was not looked into immediately," he added.
Ermita said Arroyo immediately talked to the local officials concerned when she learned of the controversy and instructed the local department and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to investigate.
He said the President expressed concern that the issue would discourage foreign investors from doing business in the Philippines.
Ermita said there is no need for the Senate to investigate the alleged bribe offer because the matter has been settled. (JMR/Sunnex) |
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